So day 1 of distributions went well as far as the work is concerned, my team hit 2 villages around Mt Mulanje distributing about 250 nets at each. The areas were all around the major tea plantation, Lujeri Tea, which was just miles of bright green tea leaf bushes on steep grades that we drove up and down in a Nissan Patrol. There were really some great views. The people were in what you would call extreme poverty. The only thing that really would set them apart from indigenous is that they wear clothes and don't all hunt for food, as many men leave the villages to work labor jobs in the day. The children must have amazing immune systems, as they all had the dirtiest hands and faces, and clearly put anything in their mouth without even thinking about it. I'd say less than half wore anything on their feet, and more than half the woman had their babies strapped to their back typical African style - their little heads bobbing all over the place as if their necks were rubber. Most of the women had really leathery feet. A lot still had beautiful colorful clothes but not so much for the children dressed mostly in a step up from dirty rags. We stopped at a school half way up the mountain on the way back that had over 1,000 kids and 7 teachers. Unbelievable. I gave them a soccer ball which the principal really appreciated. The first net distribution went very well. A nurse / village health director aiding us in speaking to the villagers and people were pretty orderly. We were targeting kids under 5 and pregnant mothers, specifically in remote locations that were too far to walk to the nearest hospital, as if getting to the hospital guarantees care that would save an infected child's life, which is questionable at many facilities. The second distribution had a lot that weren't on the 'list' we had of beneficiaries and were pretty upset when they didn't get a net. It was really hard to drive away from them, but I suppose like any social aid you have to draw the line somewhere. We got back early and I caught a nap and put up my hammock outside my room which is 10 times as comfortable as either of the beds in my 'VIP' room. If not for security of sleeping outside I would opt for that. Had fried chicken and rice for lunch and then lounged til dinner when trusty Anos sent a driver to take us to dinner that clearly wasn't planning on it and had no cash so we bought him dinner.
